The pilot killed when a plane crashed into a river in Sydney's north on New Year's Eve had flown in challenging conditions around the world and chose flying over competitive soccer, those gathered at his funeral service heard yesterday.

Gareth Morgan, 44, was one of six people who died when the Sydney Seaplanes charter hit the water at Jerusalem Bay on the Hawkesbury.

Mr Shaw said his team were there to celebrate Mr Morgan and support his family, and described him as a "great pilot and a great man".

Mr Morgan, who was born in Sydney and moved to Canada with his family as boy, had been looking at professional soccer career but decided to become a pilot, his father Rusty Morgan said during the service.

"He tried out with a professional team in Liverpool [but] he decided this is not what he wanted to do with his life," he said.